---
title: "Permissions"
description: "What each permission unlocks, and what stops working without it. Droppy asks for a capability when a feature that needs it is switched on, not before."
canonical: "https://getdroppy.app/docs/permissions"
last-updated: "2026-09-09"
---

# Permissions

What each permission unlocks, and what stops working without it. Droppy asks for a capability when a feature that needs it is switched on, not before.

- **Accessibility**: Places Droppy's overlay and receives the global shortcuts you record. Also what Window Snap, the Action Ring and Thunderstorm need to act on other apps.
- **Screen Recording**: Reads the pixels behind Droppy's own surface so it blends with your wallpaper. Required by Element Capture, Text Capture and the screen recording controls.
- **System Audio Recording**: Lets the visualizer bounce to what is actually playing, and gives Audio Control its per-app volume sliders. Levels are read in the moment; nothing is recorded.
- **Input Monitoring**: Used by Mechey for key sounds, by Thunderstorm's snippet keywords, and by shortcut handling that has to see a key before another app swallows it.
- **Automation**: Lets Droppy talk to specific apps: Music and Spotify for playback, meeting apps for mute and camera, Finder for reveal actions.
- **Microphone**: Voice Transcribe recording, and the microphone side of Meetings.
- **Camera**: The Camera Droplet's preview, the camera side of Meetings, and Thunderstorm's Open Camera and camera check.
- **Bluetooth**: Reads AirPods and headphone battery levels for their Live Activity and the lock screen widget.
- **Reminders and Calendars**: The Calendar Droplet, which shows both in one list, and the meetings in Thunderstorm. Calendar write-only access is not enough for the reading UI, so Droppy asks for full access.
- **Contacts**: Names and photos on message notifications you can reply to from the notch.
- **Full Disk Access**: Needed by a few features that read outside the sandbox's reach. Droppy has to relaunch after you grant it, and says so on the row.